Protective covering



Feb. 14, 1967 c GRUNFELD PROTECTIVE COVERING Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 27, 1965 //vv/v TOR CHARLES GRUNFE'LD AT ORNEY Feb. 14, 1967 c. GRUNFELD PROTECTIVE COVERING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1965 INVENTUI? CHARLES G'RUNFELD Feb. 14, 1967 c G F 3,303,851

PROTECTIVE COVERING Filed Jan. 27, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I/VVENTOR CHAR/L ES GRU/VFE'LD 4; A7"; gRNfY United States Patent F 3,303,851 PROTECTIVE CUVERING Charles Grunfeld, Long Beach, N.Y. (32 Corbin Place, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11235) Filed Jan. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 428,335

4 Claims. (Cl. 135-7.1)

This invention relates to a portable protective cover and more particularly relates to a dismountable support structure and cover which are readily assembled and disassembled without the use of special tools or skills.

The prior art is aware of many portable structures for the protection of items and personnel from the elements. However, the workers in the art have heretofore failed to provide a successful, easily assembled device which can be erected in several minutes. In the instant invention, the assembly is readily erected without necessitating placing the elements on the ground to secure them together.

It is an objocet of this invention to provide a cover and cover support which comprises a plurality of uniform parts whereby the erected unit can be varied with respect to size and shape to cover objects and areas having unusual dimensions.

It is another objective of this invention to provide a portable covering which is directionally adjustable to afford optimum protection against the elements.

A still further objective of the invention is to provide a sturdy framework for a protective covering which is readily mounted to items such as tables, balconies, chair arms, automobile luggage rails, and porch rails without causing an objectionable obstruction to those using the protected item.

A further important objective of the invention is to provide a protective apparatus which is characterized by its ease of manufacture and which gives the art an item having a flexibility of use heretofore unknown.

Another important objective of the invention is to provide a protective cover which can protect an extremely large area but when disassembled is packageable in a very small container.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the support structure and cover disposed over a protected surface;

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of the support structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view illustrating one of the support ribs extending through a pocket provided in the cover and having a depending leg for engaging a portion of the cover wherein a clip can be attached for securing the cover to the leg;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of a pole receiving clamp;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the pole receiving clamp illustrated in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a side view of a ridge pole receiving bracket secured to a support standard;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the ridge pole receiving bracket illustrated in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 7a is a perspective of the upper end of the vertical standards;

FIGURE 8 is an end View of an intermediate ridge pole support member having means for supporting the side ribs;

FIGURE 9 is a top view of the ridge pole and rib support member illustrated in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is an inverted view showing the interior configuration of the upper plate of the rib and ridge support member shown in FIGURES 8 and 9;

3,33,85l Patented Feb. 1 3-, 1967 FIGURE 11 discloses a ball joint permitting the pole 14 to pivot with respect to the protective surface; and

FIGURE 12 is a perspective of the cover partially unrolled.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 10 generally designates a covering unit of this invention attached to a table 12. The covering unit is basically comprised of a skeleton framework carrying a flexible protective cover 11.

The skeleton framework includes a pair of split clamp members 13 and 13' spaced at either end of the table 12. The clamping members, respectively, receive a pair of upright standards 14 and 14. Since the supporting structures at either end of the table are substantially identical to one another, only that structure at one end of the table is described and prime marks are applied to corresponding elements at the other end of the table.

Disposed above the upper end of standard 14 is a split, T-shaped juncture bracket 16 forming a downwardly extending tubular leg 18 that receives the upper end of standard 14 and and a transverse tubular portion 19 receiving a ridge pole 20. The ridge pole 2t combines with other like poles to form a ridge unit 22 which extends between and beyond the standards 14- and 14. That end of the ridge unit 22 remote from standard 14 is, of course, received by the transverse tubular portion 19' of bracket 16. It should be understood that tables, chairs and the like having a short, longitudinal dimension may require only a single ridge pole, at single upright standard, and a single clamp.

In the usual case, however, the skelton framework includes one or more ridge brackets 24 to receive intermediate ends of the poles 20 whereby surfaces of various dimensions can be covered. A bracket 24 is also normally secured to either end of the ridge unit 22. The skelton framework is completed by a plurality of rib members 26 normally retained in sewn pockets of cover 11 in a manner hereinafter described.

The juncture bracket 16 is best seen by referring to FIGURES 6 and 7. The bracket is a two-piece unit comprised of two mirror image, T-shaped halves 27 and 28 having along the top 19, transverse reception grooves 31 and 32. The members 27 and 28 are also formed with mating groves in their downwardly depending leg 18 to receive and secure the standard 14 by way of rectangular bolt units 34 and 34'. As an aid to efficiently clamping and unclamping the ridge pole to the standard, the assembly includes a spring 42 coiled about the bolt of unit 38 between halves 2'7 and 28. The spring 42 maintains the clamps partially open during assembly while the bolt unit 34 maintains the clamp in the desired general position about standard 14.

An intermediate or rib-receiving bracket 24 is best seen in FIGURES 8, 9, and 10. This bracket is comprised of an upper plate 40 and a lower complementing plate 42. The members have complementary grooves 44 for the reception of the ridge poles 20 and have complementary transverse downwardly sloping grooves 46 to receive the ribs 26. The upper and lower plates are drawn together by a pair of U-bolts 48 and 50 receivable in slots 52 formed in the web section 54 of the upper and lower plates. The slots 52 are formed purposefully large so that a loose fitting will be had between the U-bolts and the bracket halves.

The ends of each ridge pole are apertured at 51 to receive pins 53 which extend inwardly of members 40 and 42. The pin and aperture arrangement stabilizes the entire structure and prevents the ridge pole from rotating with respect to the clamps. One end of one ridge pole is slotted as indicated by the numeral 53'. This facilitates placing the last ridge pole into its bracket from a remote position.

Bracket 24 also includes a spring biasing means 25 about a positioning boss 29. Again, the biasing means is for the purpose of maintaining the plates 40 and 42 positively spaced from one another during assembly. Pins 53 can be made hollow. In some instances, especially where a single bracket 24 is used, it may be desirable to secure the poles 20 to the bracket by way of bolts extending through the holes 29' in the pins.

Returning now to FIGURES 4 and 5, it can be seen that the base of clamping member 13 is a vise-like arrangement comprised of a fixed jaw 56 and a movable jaw 58 mounted at the end of a threaded screw 60. The screw 60 is threadably received through an outwardly extending flange 62 and can be tightened against the table top in the conventional manner. Note that the jaw members 56 and 53 are respectively formed with grooves 59 and 61 whereby the clamps can just as easily be supported on a tubular railing. The upright portion 63 is split and is tightened about standard 14 by way of a wingnut 65.

The skelton framework is assembled by first securing the clamps 13 to the ends of the surface to be protected. The standards 14 are slipped into the clamps and the clamps are drawn together. The brackets 16 are mounted on the upper ends of the standards and a ridge pole 20 is placed within the receiving grooves. When the length of table 12 demands, an intermediate bracket 24 is used. A bracket 24 is also secured to each end of the ridge unit 22. A sufficient number of ridge pole sections 20 are used to span the length between the standards. Normally a ridge pole is secured in each bracket 16 and the intermediate bracket 24 is secured to one apertured inner end of a ridge pole. The slotted end can then slide into the intermediate bracket with little difliculty.

Used in combination with the skelton framework is the covering 11 having a plurality of elongated pockets '70 running transversely of the cover length. The pockets receive the rib members 26. The pockets can be closed at their extremities, or they may be opened to permit the rib 26 to extend therethrough. In the latter instance, the rib is formed with a plate '74. A spring clamp 76 can then grasp the plate 74 and the longitudinal edge or valance of the covering to maintain the cover in taut relationship with the framework. The distance between rib pockets is coordinated with the length of pole sections 20. Each individual pocket can be sewn shut or a hem 73 can be formed along the edges of the cover 11 as shown in FIGURE 12.

The cover 11 is placed over the ridge unit with the pockets 70 toward the protected surface and the fold line 71 along ridge unit 20. The pockets each include a rib 26. The ribs are sequentially fitted into their respective clamping brackets 24 after the cover is unfolded. The bracket halves are then firmly clamped together by tightening the wing nuts. Although shown in FIGURE 12 as rolled, the cover is best stored in folded sections by a series of folds transverse to line 71 wherein the pockets and ribs are on the outer surface of each fold. The cover can then be placed on the ridge and unfolded much more quickly than unrolled.

The structure as assembled is quite rigid and suitable for most purposes. However, when it is desired to more firmly afiix the cover to the skelton, the embodiment of FIGURE 3 can be used.

In some environments it is very desirable to permit the cover to tilt or pivot with respect to the protected surface. In these instances, the removable ball and socket arrangements 80 are inserted into clamps 13 and 13' (FIGURE 11). By use of such pivoting means, the cover 11 can be tilted in all directions about ball 82 and secured in a selected attitude by wing nut and clamp assembly 84.

As seen in FIGURES 8-10, the members 40 and 42 are formed with coaxial apertures 52 in their recesses 46. These apertures are to receive the wingnut bolt assemblies 4 shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 8. In some instances, especially when covering chairs or other small areas, the wingnut bolts are used as an alternative to the U-bolt assemblies 43 and 50.

In summary, it can be seen that by the utilization of simple components a covering for an object of many dimensions can be erected and adjusted at various angles with respect to the object in a matter of minutes and without the use of any special tools. Likewise, in packaging the assembly, a container no longer than standards 14 and/or members 26 must be used.

While the embodiments of the present invention, as herein disclosed, constitute a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted What is claimed is:

1. A protective cover assembly comprising:

first and second spaced standards, each of said standards comprising a single, vertically disposed rod,

first and second brackets respectively secured to the upper ends of each of said standards,

an elongated ridge unit extending between said standards,

said brackets including first means to removably secure the ends of said ridge unit to the upper ends of said standards,

a flexible cover, a middle portion thereof overlying said ridge unit,

a plurality of pockets formed in said cover on either side of said mid-section,

a rod-like rib in each of said pockets,

and a plurality of third bracket means disposed along the length of said ridge unit for removably securing said ribs to said ridge unit and at least one of said third bracket means located between said first and second brackets.

2. The assembly described in claim 1 wherein said standards include pivot means intermediate their length whereby said cover can be pivoted to cover a desired area.

3. The assembly described in claim 1 wherein said first and second brackets include ridge unit receiving grooves formed therein and wherein said second means comprises a second bracket having a groove formed therein to receive said ribs.

4. A split bracket along the length of a horizontal ridge unit for use in supporting a protective covering having pockets carrying rod-like supporting ribs comprising:

a first bottom plate having a first groove receiving said ridge unit and a second groove intersecting said first groove,

those portions of said second groove on either side of said first groove each receiving one end of one of said supporting ribs,

a second upper plate disposed over said ridge unit and having a plurality of intersecting grooves having mirror image concave surfaces disposed opposite to, and corresponding with, the concave surfaces of said first and second grooves of said bottom member, whereby when said first and second plates are juxtaposed in face-to-face relationship, channels are formed which receive said ridge unit and said ribs therein,

a bolt extending through said members where said grooves intersect and maintain said members in a generally face-to-face relationship,

a spring about said bolt for biasing said members away from each other,

and said bolt means including tightening means for drawing said members toward one another in opposition to said bias.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS (Other references on following page) 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS McGerry et a1. 1355 Duke 135--6 Horowitz 287-54 May 28754 Clement 135-3 Rollins 135-5 Rupright 1357.1 X

5/1962 France. 12/1947 Italy.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

\V. E. HEATON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PROTECTIVE COVER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: FIRST AND SECOND SPACED STANDARDS, EACH OF SAID STANDARDS COMPRISING A SINGLE, VERTICALLY DISPOSED ROD, FIRST AND SECOND BRACKETS RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO THE UPPER ENDS OF EACH OF SAID STANDARDS, AN ELONGATED RIDGE UNIT EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID STANDARDS, SAID BRACKETS INCLUDING FIRST MEANS TO REMOVABLY SECURE THE ENDS OF SAID RIDGE UNIT TO THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID STANDARDS, A FLEXIBLE COVER, A MIDDLE PORTION THEREOF OVERLYING SAID RIDGE UNIT, A PLURALITY OF POCKETS FORMED IN SAID COVER ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID MID-SECTION, A ROD-LIKE RIB IN EACH OF SAID POCKETS, 